HMV respond to gift voucher anger as stores and website close

HMV have responded to consumer anger over its decision not to honour gift vouchers after it went into administration yesterday.

Millions of pounds of gift vouchers for the collapsed music and entertainment retailer – many of which will have been given as Christmas presents – have been declared worthless.

A spokesperson from HMV told NME: "We of course understand the strength of feeling on this matter and are very sorry, but we hope that customers will understand that we are currently in administration and therefore not in a position to accept gift cards and vouchers."

The situation has seen tempers flare in one HMV store. Thames Valley police confirmed that they had been called to an incident at an HMV store in Oxford after a dispute over a gift card between two customers and staff, The Guardian reports.

The fact that HMV continued to sell gift vouchers after warning its investors on December 13 that the retailer would face a solvency crisis by the end of January is a particular source of frustration for recipients of the now-defunct cards.

Twitter user Stewart Rogers ??@Stumpy_Afc wrote: "I've been mugged! My family mainly deal in HMV vouchers for Xmas. They've taken our cash but not given us anything in return!"

Another Twitter user, @MissEngland28 wrote: "We have £50 worth of HMV vouchers that we got as wedding gifts from a few skint friends. It was a nice idea and now I feel sorry for them"

However, other people were supportive of the retailer. Emily Mayer, @emilyloinmayer wrote: " I think people need to remember its the administrators that have temporarily stopped allowing gift cards. NOT HMV. ?#savehmv"

Meanwhile, HMV.COM has now taken its website offline. A message on the site reads: "The website HMV.COM has been suspended following the appointment of the Joint Administrators. No purchases can be made online until further notice."